Look What I've Gone And Done..

Supermoto-ish posture but sports bike suspension with no pitching and diving. A good combination. I prefer my SF for hard riding at high speed because its so planted and now I've had the suspension upgraded its really nimble as well as rock solid stable. But the SDR's more relaxed riding position should be ideal for long days. OK perhaps not the perfect machine for sitting at 120 on an autobahn for hours, but who wants to do that? And fairings are for girls. For general blatting in comfort with immense power it should be just the ticket.

 

My garage smells of new motorbike

 

Cool. Enjoy her, looks the part.

 

They're very different bikes really. I would have assumed they were similar as well if I hadn't ridden both back to back. The SDR has a much more relaxed riding position than the SF. Its closer to an upright than a sports bike. I've still got my SMT at the moment and jumping from one to the other the family resemblance is clear. The SDR feels closer in spirit to the SMT than the SF (except for that engine....). The SF is very comfortable but its posture is much more aggressive than the SDR.
Then there's the engine. In character KTM and Ducati twins are as difference as chalk and cheese. The Ducati is a thudding, booming torque machine, KTMs are snarling rev monsters. The SDR has a much softer bottom end than the Ducati. Low speed manoeuvres and town riding are easier. Then there's a huge mid range with soaring revs which carries on to the limiter.
That difference in engine character is the contrast which makes KTMs and Ducatis work so well together in the same garage. It gives them totally different personalities. And in any case, supernakeds are less single-minded and more versatile than sportsbikes anyway IMO.
The only similarity is the lack of screen. But I'm not that fussed about screens because they always seem to buffet unless they're huge or the bike is a full dress tourer.

 

The sun is shining. If those roads dry out..:Hungry:

 

I've just driven into town in the van. In theory to buy a newspaper but if I'm honest it was to see if the roads were dry enough for a ride. Not too bad here. I think I'll risk it.

 

You're right. Its a lovely engine.
I got out for a brief ride last weekend before the weather stopped play. I test rode the SDR back to back with my Streetfighter last year because I'd just had some tuning work done on the SF and its now making the same sort of power and torque as the 1290 so I wanted to see how they compare. This time, not having ridden the SF for a while over winter and the 1290 being brand new and needing running in, there's no performance comparisons to make just general first impressions.

First of all, when I got the bike home in the garage it looked much bigger than I remembered. I always thought the SDR was amazingly compact for a 1300. In KTM showrooms they don't look much bigger than 690s. But next to the SF it does look a big brute of a thing. But in a good way. Shows how svelte the SF is. It looks like a racing whippet next to the SDR - its lighter too.
SDR doesn't feel heavy at all though. Riding position is luxurious. There's more wind blast than the SF, yes, but then SF's are weirdly calm for nakeds and the wind was no bother though I'll probably fit some flatter bars anyway because I like to lean forward a bit.
Couldn't give it any beans obviously but the engine is wonderful. Even with the standard pipe it sounds good. A really deep and bassy thrum. Doesn't like pulling below 3000 rpm any more than the SF does but its less thudding and easier at low speed. Bottom end power is softer than the SF, or at least less brutal. Its there but you've got more leeway with the throttle at low revs. The SF rears up like a mustang almost off tickover if you take a whiff too much gas by mistake. The SDR's is more relaxed. Its easier to ride round town but wind the throttle round a little and the thrust is bloody glorious. The comfy seat gathers you up in the small of the back and hurls you forwards and the torque is monstrous even before you get anywhere near the angry zone at 6000 rpm.
Gearing is really tall. 70 mph at 3.5K in 6th. I reckon it must be geared for 180 mph (the SF - I think - is 160).
Brakes are fabulous. Oodles of power and I reckon the SDR has a better master cylinder and lever action than the SF because there seems to be more feel at the bars. (Reminded me of the brakes on the S1000R which I think are some of the best in the business). Clutch is light as a feather. And the steering is lovely. Just like the SMT. No effort needed at all, just swoops weightlessly into turns. Not quite as planted as the SF but with less weight over the front and still on factory suspension settings I wouldn't expect it to be.
Its got humongous muscle, agile handling, comfort and its easy to ride. And it looks utterly evil, massive and orange. Its a fabulous thing. Its going to fit in just fine. Roll on spring. :Happy:

 

I think the RC8 is one of the all time best looking sports bikes. I love the white ones. In their different way I think they're as classically good looking as the 1098 and 1198. And that's saying something..